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IRREGULAR PHRASES.
CAUSES .-- The possibility of deviating from the fundamental standard of phrase-dimension (four measures) has been repeatedly intimated, and is treated with some detail in the text preceding Example 17, which should be reviewed.

It is now necessary to examine some of the conditions that lead to this result.
The causes of irregular phrase-dimension are two-fold; it may result (1) from simply inserting an additional cadence, or from omitting one.

Or (2) it may be the consequence of some specific manipulation of the phrase-melody with a view to its extension or expansion, its development into a broader and more exhaustive exposition of its contents.
THE SMALL AND LARGE PHRASES .-- If a cadence is inserted before it is properly due, it is almost certain to occur exactly _half-way_ along the line toward the expected (regular) cadence,--that is, in the _second_ measure.

This is likely to be the case only when the tempo is so slow, or the measures of so large a denomination, that two of them are practically equal to four _ordinary_ measures.